Give Wade an Ashes chance: Clarke

Matthew Wade must remain as Australia's first-choice wicketkeeper for the start of the Ashes series despite his Sheffield Shield struggles, according to former captain Michael Clarke.

Pressure is intensifying on Australian selectors to make a change in the position, given Wade has averaged just 20 with the bat since his Test recall last summer.

The Tasmanian again fell cheaply for Tasmania against Queensland in Hobart on Sunday, meaning he now has first-class scores of just one, six, nine and 17 in two matches this year.

Meanwhile, Peter Nevill is firming in the eyes of several critics, despite having not played for Australia since he was one of five players dropped after last summer's flogging at the hands of South Africa in the second Test at Hobart, where the hosts were rolled for 85 in their first innings.

While Clarke said the decision to axe Nevill at the time wasn't necessarily the right one, he insisted the selectors had to stick by Wade heading into the Ashes.

"That was a complete circus what happened after that South African Test series," Clarke told Channel Nine's Sports Sunday.